Timonen wants to make return to Flyers before heading to Sochi

By
Rob Parent, Delaware County Daily Times

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

VOORHEES, N.J. — From Kimmo Timonen’s perspective, the upcoming Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament carries an aura special enough to have given him extra motivation to re-sign with the Flyers prior to last season.

Though Timonen, 38, dismisses the widespread notion that the Olympics were a prime motivator for the two-year extension he signed, he made no effort to conceal his excitement about lining up on the blue line for Team Finland for what would be his fifth Olympics. But the foot injury that has forced Timonen to miss the past two Flyers games must be significant, too, for after a full practice at the Skate Zone Wednesday, he said his plan to play in the Olympics would be green- lighted only if he plays for the Flyers before his scheduled departing time.

At least that’s the way Timonen was looking at it on this day.

“I need to play this week,” Timonen said ahead of a home game Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche, and another Saturday against the Calgary Flames. Then it’s off to Sochi, Russia ... or is it?

“This was the first hard skate in six days, so I’m going to see how it feels tonight and tomorrow and go from there,” Timonen said. “Obviously, if you get two games (in) that’s better than one. ... If I feel good (Thursday), then it’s a coach’s decision if they want to play me.”

There doesn’t seem to be much doubt that any “coach’s decision” would be little more than a formality if Timonen is medically cleared to play.

“Well, if he’s ready to play we’re going to play him,” coach Craig Berube said.

Though partially afflicted with the team-wide plague that often disables any Flyer’s vocal chords when asked about injuries, Timonen nonetheless indicated he thought his foot was well on its way to recovery.

“I’m just trying to get healthy here and that’s the first thing on my mind. I’m pretty confident that I won’t miss (the Olympics), with the way I felt today on the ice. If it gets really sore tonight or tomorrow, then maybe I have to worry about it. But so far it looks good; every day it’s been better. But I have to focus on getting healthy first and playing in these two games if I can play, and go from there.”

•••

Coming off back-to-back road wins over the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks, the Flyers’ overall team confidence seems to be percolating at a premium pace.

“I think we played our best hockey the last two games, which is very important, especially before the (Olympic) break,” Jake Voracek said. “The standings are very tight and it’s going to make a huge difference in the end if you’re going to get two, three or four points (before the break).

“We can’t really think about what’s going to happen in the next three weeks, we have to focus on the next two games. They’re two very good teams, a lot of balance in both teams. So we have to make sure we focus on Colorado, and after Colorado we focus on Calgary.”

To Voracek, it’s vital that his teammates take the time to re-focus near the end of the long break to prepare for the stretch drive. That looks good for the Flyers, who after the Olympics will play 14 of their remaining 23 games at home.

“Somebody’s going to get a break and some guys are going to the Olympics,” said Voracek, who will be heading to his first Winter Games experience for the Czech Republic. “So everybody should do what they’ve got to do, but make sure we’re ready when we are back.”